The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-12-03
POULTRY ON The FARM.
How to Keep Fowls Healthy and In
Prontn BILE Condition.

The word poultry suggests to differ
snt individuals different pictures. To
some Of us who have been so nnfortu-
nate as tn have had an attack Of "hen
fever" 1t suggests some pretty feath-
cred creatures plump and comfortable.
singing as 1t were TO express their
thanks for the care bestowed upon them.
They also make their owners happy by
gifts of eggs, which. although not liter
ally made of gold, are easily converted
into 1t, and to a hungry man are far
more palatnble. laNap aHGW
Before we can have poultry we must
have eggs. 1t might also be said, that
to have eggs we must have the right
breed Of fpoultry. Allthings con sidered,
the Plymouth Rock family is second TO
none. The Lcghorn family comes next,
both white and brown. With good caro-
and judicious feeding, all the different
breeds will give satisfactory returns.
Much depends on the housing and
feeding. Warm quarters are absolutely
necessary in winter. No breed of
poultry can be made profitable to the
owner when kept in cold, damp quar-
tcrs in the winter. The care of fowlsis
imperfect which does not provide fresh
meat and green vegetables. such as
cabbage, turnips or early cut hay, cut
fine and scalded. lng r}a ~
To keep fowls healthy one must pro-
vide u variety. A hot mash every
winter morning should be the rule.
Fowls should never be forced to eat
snow in winter or drink ice water. Let
the water be tepid and clear. Wheat
Is an excellent food for fowls. Corn is
too fattening for steady diet; it should
be given to them when going to roost
in cold weather in winter. To feed a
cabbage head to fowls or sheaf Of
wheat or oats, hang i. up so they can
just reach it. Hang it so it will swing
freely, and the birds circle around it.
Ears of corn can also be hung in the
same way. 1t all aids to keep the fowls
employed.
If fowls are rightly cared for in
winter the profit then will equal the
profit in summer. The poultry yard
can be made the dumping ground of q
great many things. Any vegetable
matter which will decay, or almost any
sort of animal product fit for fowl to
eat, can be thrown there to advantage.
Hay seed and rubbish from the barn
floor or horse managers should go there,
as the fowls will eat great many
seeds and thus keep them from sprout-
ing in the fields. The scratching ex.
ercisc is also what the fowls need. and
indeed must have. When the rubbish
decays it should 60 to the manure pile.
Strict attention is very necessary in
the management of poultry to insure
success. The beginner with poultry
should not be disturbed at seeing very
many different rules given for success.
The fact is. fowls will thrive under sew
eral kinds of treatment, provided they
all secure comfort for the birds. That
is the main rule. p
Hens are nuisance about a grain
and a hay barn, and if they have a
house and yard of their own, they have
no business in the barn. Their feeding
can be better regulated; fewer eggs
are lost or broken, and the parasite
nuisance is rendered more manageable.
The hens can sit and hatch with less
disturbance. The hen house should
stand in convenient place. The size
must correspond with the number Of
fowls kept. If possible, the walls
should be plastered, SO they can be
whitewashed in fall and spring. A
good gravel floor, with the foundation
walls laid in mortar, will be proof
against rats and vermin. Good venti-
lation is necessary and should be on
top. Cleanliness is necessary to insure
the health of the fowls. Plenty of
glass windows are absolutely necessary
to make it pleasant for them.
Diseases common to poultry, can in
a great many instances be prevented
by providing warm, dry and clean
quarters. Keeping too many fowls in
one place is apt to bring on disease.
This should be avoided. Onions
chopped fine and mixed with their food
is good for their health. A little sui
phur should be given in the winter.
When they have roup or diph'
iberia, give half teaspoonful OF
kerosene. Open the bill and turn
from II spoon. Lime and ashes should
always be kept by them. A little salt
occasionally in their food is good fol
theirhealth. In winter. apples, turnip.
and cabbages chopped fine will be bene
fetal. Strict attention TO all the little
details connected with management o
poultry will be amply rewarded in pro
duction of eggs. Care must be taker
in marketing that they are fresh laid
The thirty-dozen crate is perhaps the
safest thing yet invented. Small mum.
bers can be safely carried in the com
mon market basket, if packed in oats
or fine cut straw.
In dressing poultry for the market
great care is necessary, particularly il
scalding. Too hot or too cold water
will give the bird bad appearance and
will be apt to reduce the price. Dress.
ing poultry for the market should he
done by experienced hands. The ricl
yellow color so much admired by buyers
must not be damaged by dressing. Th'
loose skin on che neck must be draw
over the end of the neck and CAREFUL,
tied. All blood should be carefully
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